Assembly Bill No. 76–Assemblyman Mortenson

February 9, 2001

____________

Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

SUMMARY—Makes appropriations to Interim Finance Committee and Department of Education for allocation to certain public television stations to convert to digital television and to certain nonprofit public radio stations to assist in replacement of aging transmission equipment. (BDR S‑1053)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

~

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

AN ACT making appropriations to the Interim Finance Committee and the Department of Education for allocation to certain public television stations to convert to digital television as required by the Federal Communications Commission and for the support of certain nonprofit public radio stations to assist in the replacement of aging transmission equipment; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general

1-2 fund to the Interim Finance Committee for allocation to stations KNPB and

1-3 KLVX to carry out the conversion to digital television required by the

1-4 Federal Communications Commission DTV Standard, MM Docket No.
87-268:

1-5 KNPB in Reno................... $1,000,000

1-6 KLVX in Las Vegas........... $1,000,000

1-7 2. The money appropriated by subsection 1 may be disbursed only by

1-8 the Interim Finance Committee at a ratio of $1 for every $1 of matching

1-9 money received by the television stations from federal and private sources.

1-10 3. Television stations KNPB and KLVX shall report jointly to the

1-11 Interim Finance Committee every 3 months:

1-12 (a) The status of the conversion to digital television; and

1-13 (b) The amount of matching money that has been received from federal

1-14 and private sources.

1-15 Sec. 2. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund

1-16 to the Department of Education the sum of $500,000 for the support of

2-1 nonprofit public radio stations in Nevada to assist in the replacement of

2-2 aging transmission equipment.

2-3 2. The Department of Education must disburse the money appropriated

2-4 by subsection 1 to those public radio stations whose programs are devoted

2-5 primarily to serving the educational, informational and cultural needs of

2-6 the communities in Nevada.

2-7 3. The money appropriated by subsection 1 may be disbursed only by

2-8 the Department of Education at a ratio of $1 for every $1 of matching

2-9 money received by the public radio stations in Nevada from federal and

2-10 private sources.

2-11 4. The public radio stations must report to the Department of

2-12 Education every 3 months the amount of matching money that has been

2-13 received from federal and private sources.

2-14 Sec. 3. Any remaining balance of the appropriations made by sections

2-15 1 and 2 of this act must not be committed for expenditure after June 30,

2-16 2003, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of

2-17 money committed have been made.

2-18 Sec. 4. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

2-19 H